Latest from Stourport Hockey Club

Stourport played some good hockey in possession, but found Finchfield dangerous on the counter-attack. With a player down, Stourport found themselves overloaded, and Finchfield took the lead. Stourport continued to absorb the pressure and kept the score at 0-1 going into the half-time break. Stourport pushed higher up the pitch and took control for long periods in the second half, but again Finchfield struck on the counter-attack to extend their lead to 0-2. Stourport responded with real intent with some outstanding attacking play from their youngsters, Seb*, Harrison*, and their player of the match, Barnaby*, who caused their hosts constant problems down the right-hand side of the pitch, ensuring that the visitors were always a threat. Stourport were in the ascendancy, and a period of sustained pressure provided the opportunity for Adam Leeke to pull a goal back with a simple finish into an open goal. The goal provided the momentum for Stourport to push harder, and ten minutes from time, Barney Wright scored a well-taken equaliser. Stourport continued to press for the winner, but the decisive goal could not be found. However, a draw against a strong and physical Finchfield side was the least that Stourport deserved after a resilient and positive performance, which will set them up for a double-header this weekend when they take on Leek and Birmingham University.

Despite scoring with the last hit of the match, this late consolation goal was not to prevent Stourport men's 3rd XI from going down 1-2 when they entertained second-placed Old Halesonians, the Midlands 6 Division South West. The well-drilled Old Hales side initially posed problems for the hosts, as their pace and continual running forced several short corners, with a slip by a defender at one of these corners resulting in the opening goal. With the introduction of some mature players, Stourport began to establish control of the match, although initially this didn't threaten the Old Hales goal. In time, this control began to force several short corners, one of which came agonisingly close when a looping aerial landed on the roof of the goal. Stourport continued to dominate in the second half but were unable to seriously threaten the well-drilled Old Hales defence. With the two-minute warning already having been signalled by the umpires, the home side, chasing an equaliser, threw caution to the wind, only for Old Hales to hit Stourport with a quick counter-attack and added a second. With only seconds now to play, Stourport were pushing forward and were awarded a short corner, which was duly dispatched by David Knott with the last hit of the ball.

Stourport men's 4th XI travelled, with their heads held high, to take on the young and strong Old Silhillians 3rd XI, for their Midlands Division 7 South West match, which the hosts won 0-2. Old Silhillians had trained well for this match and, with some well-placed runs by their young forwards, took an early two-goal lead. The home side kept up the pressure on the Stourport goal throughout the first half, but some excellent team defensive work by the visitors prevented the hosts from adding to their score before the break. Stourport came out in the second half with renewed vigour and kept the match stable for the opening ten minutes of the half. Strong runs in the last twenty minutes of the match created chances for both sides, with only the excellent defensive work, including some outstanding saves by the Stourport keeper Stu Peterson, from multiple short corners awarded to the old Sills side. Although creating enough chances to pull the match back, Stourport were unable to score, and Old Sills came away with a 0-2 victory.

* Denotes a Junior Player.

Picture by Sara Jennings